Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

What's it all about

Wells-next-the-Sea in the heart of North Norfolk enjoys a traditional summer Carnival for residents and visitors. A week of family fun and events including a Carnival Day procession around the town featuring floats, fancy-dress, pull-and push-along vehicles and much more. Traditional seaside activities include a sand-castle competition, town crier competition, gillying on the quay and the crowning of the Carnival Royals.

A bit of history..

Wells Carnival is a not-for-profit organisation run by a team of hardworking volunteers who live in or near the town of Wells-next-the-Sea on the beautiful North Norfolk coast. The event has been taking place annually at the beginning of August for over 50 years. In fact we are reliably informed that the Carnival, but admittedly not as we know it, since it was only one day or weekend, started in the 1890's. Over the years the event has grown and the carnival committee ‘Crew’ (they wear the fuchsia pink T.shirts) now organise more than 90 events over the 10 days of Carnival.

We endeavour to provide entertainment for all ages from teddy bears picnics for the little ones, costume making workshops, raft race, history walks plus live music over 6 nights and the ever popular Screen on the Green. The event culminates on the 2nd Saturday with the main Carnival event, including fancy dress competitions, a parade around the town and a spectacular music event in the evening.

Carnival 2015

Official dates are Friday 31st July 2015 to Sunday 9th August 2015(incl).

Carnival Day itself, along with the Carnival Parade, traditionally takes place on the 2nd Saturday of Carnival week - therefore this year it will be on Saturday 8th August

Carnival 2015 begins in :-

Days

Hours

Mins

Secs

Future dates

Subject to circumstances beyond our control Wells Carnival will take place:

2016 DATES: Friday 29th July to Sunday 7th August (incl)

2017 DATES: Friday 28th July to Sunday 6th August (incl)

Programme

A full programme of events is available to view on our About Carnival page approx 4 weeks prior to the Carnival Week – but it is worth checking regularly as information is added on a weekly basis, as and when events are confirmed

During the parade, on Carnival Day itself, there is a bucket collection (authorised buckets are clearly marked). This money is divided among local charities and organisations at our AGM held in October.

Dressing up is 100% encouraged – in fact the more outrageous and flamboyant the better. We have themes running throughout the week so check the programme of events for more information.

ChristmasTide

In 2009 the Carnival ‘Crew’ took over the running of the annual Wells Christmas Tide. This stunning weekend event takes place at the beginning of December and fits in with the tides. Father Christmas travels from the North Pole by boat and is welcomed to Wells Harbour by an illuminated lantern procession and firework display. Visit our website for more information and photographs from last years event.

Carnival Photography

Photos

Wells Carnival photos are taken by our lovely resident photographer Cy – you can’t miss him – he is the ‘Yeti with a camera’ (his words not ours), ‘but fret ye not,’ he doesn’t bite!!! Cy attends just about all our events, snapping away. He then pops home, loads all the photos on the website and sends the information to our local chemist (David Jagger Ltd). These photos can then be purchased by calling into the chemist or can be ordered by post through Cy’s website. To view photos and further information on ordering click here: www.cycoze.com/wellscarnival.html

Pat Weston - Wells Carnival Chairman - (4th from the right) - receiving North Norfolk Radio Local Heroes Award - 'Contribution to the Community' - on behalf of the Carnival Committee, held at Godwick Great Barn on Wednesday 6th November 2013.

Carnival Sponsorship 2015

A major part of the Carnival’s success is the unstinting and continued support of not only the Wells people and businesses, but also from our visitors from further afield.

To make a success of Carnival requires extensive sponsorship and fund raising so that as many people as possible are catered for and to ensure that we offer a great week’s entertainment. We would like to ask that everyone considers sponsoring, even if it’s just a small part of the week long event.

For anyone wishing to advertise in our programme or would like more information on sponsoring individual events please contact us or visit our Get Involved page.

We are finding it more expensive than ever to put on a good show and we hope that everyone who takes advantage of the free events on offer will pop a few pounds in the collection buckets to ensure we can repeat the event in the years to come. The committee are all volunteers, don’t receive a penny for the 1000’s of hours spent organising and running Wells Carnival & Wells ChristmasTide but can only carry on if you ALL support our efforts.

Car Stickers

New for 2014 Wells Carnival have on offer Wells-next-the-Sea car stickers. These will be on sale during Carnival week, from our merchandise stall, with all proceeds going directly towards funding the event.
If you can’t wait ‘till then just send us a cheque (payable to Wells Carnival Ltd.) for £1.50 per sticker plus a S.A.E. to:

(please make sure you enclose a stamped, addressed envelope plus a note indicating which sticker you would like – ‘crabs’ or ‘love’).
Alternatively make a donation (click on red button on the right) for a minimum of £2.50 (to incl. P & P) and we will pop in the post to you. Additional stickers £1.50 each. Don't forget to state which sticker you would like - if you forget just email through a message to: wellscarnival@live.co.uk

Funding

The majority of events throughout the 10 days are either free or of minimal charge to offset some of the costs.

The ‘Crew’ relies on sponsorship, advertising andbucket collections throughout the week to cover the cost of putting on all the events – so if you come along to join in the fun please make sure you put a few quid in the collection buckets. If you can’t find a bucket you can always leave a donation at the Wells Carnival merchandise tent. or you can donate using your credit or Debit card securely using the Paypal Payments gateway.

Donations

Alternatively, you can send us a cheque made out to: Wells Carnival Ltd and send c/o 46 Waveney Close, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1HT